I moved to Mexico a few years ago and tequila always seemed to be one of the things that characterized Mexicans the most. However, I could have never imagined how deeply devoted they are to this drink. Not only do they drink it every time they party (I rarely see anyone drinking something else), some people also drink it on a regular basis.

I know this sounds insane. Shots on a Tuesday? It might seem like Mexicans could be alcoholics, but that's definitely not the case. Some individuals drink a shot of tequila like it is wine. This means they don't chug it like they are at some club getting wasted. The point is to drink the tequila slowly in order to really savor it. I thought this was really weird at first because I had never seen this before. Even in my native Colombia, where aguardiente is the traditional alcoholic beverage, no one really has a shot of this hard liquor unless they are at a social gathering.

My parents started doing this some nights during the week after they had eaten dinner. I asked them why they liked it, since I couldn't understand why they did it. I always thought the whole point of drinking a shot quickly was to avoid tasting its awful flavor, no matter the type of liquor. My parents said that the goal was not to get drunk, but to really enjoy the flavor because high quality tequila is actually surprisingly delicious.

After a few months of living in this country I finally understood that tequila isn't just a regular alcoholic drink. It's part of the culture and drinking it can be, in my opinion, a fascinating culinary experience. Even though I don't drink tequila very often, I fell in love with it because it reminds me of how powerful a culture can be. Mexicans turned this beverage into a symbol. If you go abroad, tequila will always be associated with Mexican culture. In Mexico, it has become so much more than just a drink. Tequila is an experience.